Tag Archives: social media

I have addressed the new year, in terms of where I might go, and such. In terms of the Now, however, any new year is best approached by looking at the Four F’s of one’s life: Family, Friends, Faith and Finances.

So, let’s do this.

Family- I have to be at the ready, always, for any changes that happen in my large and cherished family. As with anyone, I need to be ready for births, deaths and any dire emergency in between. Right now, the radar screen shows my niece’s wedding, in June. May peace reign, in the interim. My family goal this year, though, remains more regular communication with all. Social media takes up much of that slack, and I am already engaged in writing a traditional letter to my mother, every 1-2 weeks. A similar letter, to my eldest brother, goes out once a month, and he follows my online postings. The same is true of my son.

Friends- There is someone who I consider my best friend, and to whom I would devote as much time as she needs. She is a busy soul, though, so up to now, that time has not amounted to a whole lot. There are many others, from my fellows in Faith, my co-workers and people, from three blocks away, to Zimbabwe and Siberia, for whom I would give my life. I have two caveats: Please do not call or message me, randomly, and get offended when I don’t have time for a social call- deferred attention is always an option. Secondly, not buying a product you have for sale or endorsing a mass message you are promoting on Facebook Messenger does not mean I don’t care about you. Conversely, if you don’t take up my cause, I will still regard you as a friend. Visiting goes by the same rules. I will always call or message, in advance, when headed your way. Right now, a visit to a friend in Orange County, CA is in the works and there may be several more, between here and Philadelphia, come school year’s end.

Faith- My day starts with meditation, prayer and recitation of a sacred verse. Faith, though, has to be reflected in everything one does, especially with regard to other people. So, my work, my driving, my business transactions, even my leisure activities, are approached with Baha’i principles in mind. I am no saint, but the Golden Rule is ever present. I will have many activities brought to my calendar, faith-wise, this year, and as with concerns with family, so do I need to be ready and flexible on my schedule, to prioritize Baha’i activities, when they directly impact the spiritual well-being of the community. This afternoon, and this coming Sunday, are examples of short-notice gatherings, for which I am able to be ready. I anticipate many more.

Finances- Given my temperament, this area has long been my weak spot. I am giving it a lot more attention, and being coached financially is one reason why I am choosing to wake earlier each day. I fully intend to grow my estate, given looming events, for which one is normally expected to have a fair amount of cash on hand. The main thing is that I have put a scarcity mentality behind me, and will persevere in the coming months, in building more short-term security. I tended to possible elder care needs, at Penny’s behest, while she was still alive. I am also very well-insured.

March 4, 2017, Camp Verde- I began the day, helping with a Red Cross Home Safety activity, in a neighbourhood near the main fire station, in this town that lies over the Black Mountains and some forty-five miles east of Prescott. We worked with town firemen, installing smoke detectors along a street that abuts the fire station. As I had done a similar task, late last year, in Sedona, the event today went very smoothly. The firemen are also past masters at installing the devices, which made it smoother still.

After that, I took a couple of hikes, one along the Verde River, at Clear Creek Day Use Area and the other in Copper Canyon, which lies southwest of Camp Verde. More about each of those, tomorrow.

Today, though, comes the matter of civility. We have, before us, a sitting President accusing his immediate predecessor of conducting surveillance on his signature office building and residence, during the brouhaha that masqueraded as an election campaign. Said predecessor, speaking through his aides, denies the accusations. Time, and investigation, will, of course show who is being truthful here.

We are in the throes of incivility, and have been, for some time now. Consider: It was four years ago, last December, that 26 people were slain in an elementary school. Two days after the carnage, unknown militants threatened to kill both the survivors of those victims AND a man who had taken other children into his home, and reunited them with their parents. The trolls were insisting that all the above were part of a Federal conspiracy to confiscate weapons from private citizens. Never mind that seven of those families were headed by members of the National Rifle Association, and owned weapons.

Consider: Survivors, loved ones, of American military heroes, have been, and are still being, attacked by uncivil people-of both Alt-Right ( in the case of the Khan family) and Far-Left (in the case of Karenn Owens) political bent.

Consider: Trash-talking by adults about, and towards, children is almost de rigeur, online and in the check-out lines of stores; in public and, no doubt, in trusting private. Children have been treated like mini-adults, by the media, for some time (Children of colour, in particular, are most often referenced by surname, in the mainstream media). Many parents, citing “freedom of speech”, are following suit.

The way adults treat one another is often little better; thus, the reverse role models, who give kids the notion that no level of profanity, no level of insult, is too extreme. To the innocent mind, this seems like a perfectly acceptable way to be taken seriously, and thus, filth streams out of many children’s mouths.

I was raised to be civil, and I know I am far from alone. Anonymity is cited as the reason for road rage, Internet trolling, stalking, and bullying of all stripes. It is not valid. We can see those at whom we honk horns or flip the bird, and whose vehicles we tailgate or cut off. We can read the responses, see the fear or sadness of those we attack on social media. We can feel the trepidation and notice the unease of those we try to intimidate. The bully knows what is being done.

It all goes back to our self-image. If, deep down, one doesn’t feel he/she matters, then no one else matters, either. The fact is, each of us does matter, or we wouldn’t be here. Each of us does have a mandate to be civil- regardless of the false mirrors we see on television, in the movies, on stage and the messages we hear on radio or see online. Each of us could learn from those whose opinions differ from ours, because each of us has a portion of the truth, within our psyches.

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It is a great mystery that though the human heart longs for Truth, in which alone it finds liberation and delight, the first reaction of human beings to Truth is one of hostility and fear! -Anthony de Mello